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Don't you think that is a bit simplistic? I don't drive more than I have to, but I do have to drive as do others. If I lived in a town where there were a decent mass transit system, I'd be doing that.
I guess my question was sort of tongue-in-cheek. We cannot make "them" do anything. They are the keeper of the oil and guess what, they get to decide what currencies they want to accept.
Now, if you mean invading another country to force them to continue trading in dollars, that's another thing - another very stupid thing.
We've already done that with one and look at the mess we are in.
To stop buying it is simplistic? It may be simple, but I do not think it is simplistic.
In real life I am an energy-type Electrical Engineer. Former Army O-type Engineer, as well, so I am fairly big on America, but do not buy any of the political BS -- such as this thread is becoming full of.
Did some study work a few years back on US and Oil and where this heading. The Iranians have one thing right -- Oil is . . . Death to America. If we do not stop this, it is a grim and nasty death ahead for US and most of whom we encounter on our path to the bottom.
So with that in mind, I started heavy into RE (renewable energy) designs, a couple of years ago.
But being an Engineer and former Army type, I think talk is cheap, and you should usually do something before you talk sheet about it. So we ran a real world test of it last year. We have a Jeep and a work Truck and we played a little to see how few miles we could travel. Came out a little under 5000 miles -- and that included a just for fun 1000 mile trip to the coast (Corpus Christi from Dallas) and a few trips out to visit family in East Texas.
Did the bicycle for normal short grocery runs and the kids would ride along for fun. Got to the point, we did so little motoring, I would start my truck at least once a week just to keep it in good running shape.
This year is different. Right now I am so swamped with Utility Scale and Renewable Energy type design work, I have customers calling me today while at our daughter's soccer game wanting to make sure I was working all weekend to keep pumping projects out . . . geeezzz. Those folks are always trying to force me to travel even beyond real need just because everyone that has the look-ahead skill knows where this is all going to wind up.
Bottom line -- Oil = Death. We need to stop it now before it kills US.
To stop buying it is simplistic? It may be simple, but I do not think it is simplistic.
In real life I am an energy-type Electrical Engineer. Former Army O-type Engineer, as well, so I am fairly big on America, but do not buy any of the political BS -- such as this thread is becoming full of.
Did some study work a few years back on US and Oil and where this heading. The Iranians have one thing right -- Oil is . . . Death to America. If we do not stop this, it is a grim and nasty death ahead for US and most of whom we encounter on our path to the bottom.
So with that in mind, I started heavy into RE (renewable energy) designs, a couple of years ago.
But being an Engineer and former Army type, I think talk is cheap, and you should usually do something before you talk sheet about it. So we ran a real world test of it last year. We have a Jeep and a work Truck and we played a little to see how few miles we could travel. Came out a little under 5000 miles -- and that included a just for fun 1000 mile trip to the coast (Corpus Christi from Dallas) and a few trips out to visit family in East Texas.
Did the bicycle for normal short grocery runs and the kids would ride along for fun. Got to the point, we did so little motoring, I would start my truck at least once a week just to keep it in good running shape.
This year is different. Right now I am so swamped with Utility Scale and Renewable Energy type design work, I have customers calling me today while at our daughter's soccer game wanting to make sure I was working all weekend to keep pumping projects out . . . geeezzz. Those folks are always trying to force me to travel even beyond real need just because everyone that has the look-ahead skill knows where this is all going to wind up.
Bottom line -- Oil = Death. We need to stop it now before it kills US.
I think it is going to kill us. Let's start with the people in these forums who defend their right to own two SUVs, a boat, a plane, etc. Let's start with those people.
My neigborhood does not lend itself to walking anywhere, as there are no sidewalks to walk on - at least in the direction of the grocery store. With six lanes of traffic, I'm not walking in the street. It's one of the things I detest about this place. I have walked to the convenience store but I fear for my life just getting to and from there. Sigh. I wish I didn't live where I do, but cars are a reality in this town. I think I've put on 6K miles annually and not one more than I have to as I live in fear every time I get behind the wheel here. I do drive once a week downtown to volunteer and that's as far as I get.
Anyway, kudos to you for what you are doing.
Last edited by movin'on; 05-10-2008 at 06:50 PM..
Reason: irrelevant point
the problem is inflation, its not the Saudi's fault our dollar has been devalued and inflation is sky rocketing. So why should they subsidize our irresponsibility?
I think it is going to kill us. Let's start with the people in these forums who defend their right to own two SUVs, a boat, a plane, etc. Let's start with those people.
My neigborhood does not lend itself to walking anywhere, as there are no sidewalks to walk on - at least in the direction of the grocery store. With six lanes of traffic, I'm not walking in the street. It's one of the things I detest about this place. I have walked to the convenience store but I fear for my life just getting to and from there. Sigh. I wish I didn't live where I do, but cars are a reality in this town. I think I've put on 6K miles annually and not one more than I have to as I live in fear every time I get behind the wheel here. I do drive once a week downtown to volunteer and that's as far as I get.
Anyway, kudos to you for what you are doing.
No kudos due this direction. Got kids and this is a future focused thing. And friends and family in the current Iraqicide-Home-Invasion-Robbery.
I suppose there are some other driving perspectives that might fit as well -- you might have heard the proverb . . . We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.
Used to live in Arlington, Texas -- and that is a pretty much Earth-Unfriendly town, like what you are describing. Has the distinction of being the largest city in America with no Public Transportation. Did some digging into that, and it is driven by the fear and belief that having no Public Transportation will keep "poor people" out of their town. How is that for Hate In The Heart? Not only poisoning their heart but their lungs, as well, with all the stinky cars.
Could not bike through much of there, either, except through the old downtown area, which is empty due to economic blighting. Dallas is not much better. Really have to know the ways around the routes to be able to use a bike to get anywhere. One stretch of road by here that has no sidewalks is used to drop off school kids from the bus where traffic generally goes 50 to 70 mph -- but it is the poor darker side of town, so the general Dallas view is screw-em.
I am not inclined to cap on the folks with SUVs, and rest of the mess. A lifetime ago, I used to farm in a Mennonite / Amish area. The further I go, the more I look back and respect them. Their view was their goal was to be right with God, first. (and second, and third) What other folks do is up to them. Now, as far as I go, I sort of try to mix that with Military Leadership training. My goal on the Renewable Energy stuff is to:
1. Learn It.
2. Live It.
3. Teach It.
but . . .
Never Preach It.
Anyway putting all that together sort of comes out as a Jesus model and He taught -- first clean up yourself Goes for this oil stuff, too. So I figure I should start with me, and the folks still needing, wanting and using it some years from now will have their own reward.
Sorry to get political, but we are not entitled to the oil in the Middle East. It is not on our soil. It is our fault for relying on a resource that can't be produced locally for fuel. It is not our oil. How much you despise the Middle East or the leaders doesn't change that.
And before anyone jumps to conclusions and tries to make assumptions, I am NOT a liberal.
The big bad oil companies are owned mostly by working Americans who have IRAs and 401k's. What kind of stocks are in your retirement plans? I can almost guarantee there is some oil companies somewhere in some fund. If so, you are the big bad oil companies that are making a huge profit. Those darn retirement plans! They are ruining America!
The big bad oil companies are owned mostly by working Americans who have IRAs and 401k's. What kind of stocks are in your retirement plans? I can almost guarantee there is some oil companies somewhere in some fund. If so, you are the big bad oil companies that are making a huge profit.
Guess you would lose on your "almost guarantee." So what is an "almost guarantee," anyway? Just another way of saying bs without quite saying it?
Anyway, no stocks in retirement plans, nor elsewhere, thank you. Why would I fund my enemy?
Quote:
Those darn retirement plans! They are ruining America!
You actually have some sad truth there that you did not intend. Since it appears that we will sell our Moral Values -- ie, Do Not Lie, Cheat or Steal, Nor Tolerate Those Who Do, for Stock and Cash Values, that is severely contributing to the collective downfall.
Time was before "retirement plans" (and Viagra and Touch-of-Gray hair coloring that came with the forever juvenile Boomers), that good long term investments were considered to be raising and educating good, productive children.
It is always the children who wind up talking care of the old as they were taken care of. Circle of Life thing, if you understand it. Now otherwise worthless pieces of paper are esteemed to be of value and the kids are aborted, discarded and otherwise considered worthless. So how do think that will play out long term for any "retirement plan?"
here is the solution. If I had one of those. Given my current driving situation, I would never need to use gasoline - ever. As long as you stay below 41mph (I only drive streets) and stay within the battery range of the vehicle (usually around 50miles) you'll never use gasoline. If you get that electricity from renewable sources you are basically zero emissions, just imagine how good our air quality would get if everyone used a Plug-in hybrid. You can make one of these cars yourself through the use of a kit or you can wait until 2009 when toyota and other car companies start marketing these cars to the mainstream. With everything being said, do you think we really have an energy crisis? I would think not. The only thing that worries me is how expensive these cars will be? Hopefully they will be affordable.
here is the solution. If I had one of those. Given my current driving situation, I would never need to use gasoline - ever. As long as you stay below 41mph (I only drive streets) and stay within the battery range of the vehicle (usually around 50miles) you'll never use gasoline. If you get that electricity from renewable sources you are basically zero emissions, just imagine how good our air quality would get if everyone used a Plug-in hybrid. You can make one of these cars yourself through the use of a kit or you can wait until 2009 when toyota and other car companies start marketing these cars to the mainstream. With everything being said, do you think we really have an energy crisis? I would think not. The only thing that worries me is how expensive these cars will be? Hopefully they will be affordable.
If everyone did this, the Arabs would be in deep trouble. Our petroleum needs would be able to be met by domestic sources, and algae sequestration of carbon dioxide would create a huge bio-Diesel supply as well. Imagine if a low-cost battery and motor kit was available now? A lot of hobbyists would be converting their cars as we write.
If everyone did this, the Arabs would be in deep trouble. Our petroleum needs would be able to be met by domestic sources, and algae sequestration of carbon dioxide would create a huge bio-Diesel supply as well. Imagine if a low-cost battery and motor kit was available now? A lot of hobbyists would be converting their cars as we write.
Oh, you poor pathetic people.
Unless it's made of glass, wood or metal, everything you freaking touch and eat and put on your body is made of oil.
Get a Montgomery Ward, JC Penny or Sears catalog from the 1970s and look at the clothes. What? You don't like the colors? Oh, you poor baby, your bright colored clothes today are made from inks and dyes from oil feed stocks.
You have allergies and take prescription medication? Thank oil. Oil feed stocks is what allows those allergy medications to exist.
Over-the-counter medications are full of oil, just like your shampoos, and soaps, and body washes, and body lotions and hair gels and hair colorings.
Liquid Tide and All? Full of oil. The plastic bottle and cap are oil, the dyes that make up the pretty colors for the bottle and cap are oil, the adhesive for the label is oil, the inks and dyes that make up the pretty colors on the label are oil, and the liquid detergent itself is oil. Triethanolomine, the active soil release agent is oil, as is neodol. Made at the Shell refinery in Louisiana.
Wild Flavors and Givuadan use oil in their artificial colorings, artificial flavorings, and even artificial odors for your packaged and pre-processed foods.
Cosmetics were made from animal fats, until the late 1980s and now they're all made of oil.
Pesticides, herbicides, household cleaning products and so forth are all made of oil.
They nylon in your clothes and carpeting and draperies are made of oil, as are everything plastic and things electronic.
You want to cut oil imports and oil usage? Go right ahead, gosh, that's only about 22 Million jobs that will be lost, and you'll be paying through the nose for everything you want.
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